PICTURE GALLERY: Former miners turned out in force to hold their annual reunion in Grimethorpe yesterday – marking the 30th anniversary since the village colliery closed and wiped out thousands of jobs.

 

The popular pre-Christmas event, which was started by Jack Howell in 1993, was taken on by Johnny Wood following the former’s death.

 

The reunion saw scores of people – including Barnsley East MP Stephanie Peacock – pay their respects at the memorial outside St Luke’s Church to local lives lost.

 

Johnny said: “What Grimethorpe went through shouldn’t be forgotten about – that’s why we all come together, year after year, to remember.

 

“This year’s reunion was a particularly special one given the anniversary.”